The Press., 1887-11-17
WASHINGTON LETTER,

Washington, D. C., Nov. 12, 1887.
 It is natural to suppose that city like Washington, the capital of great nation, the centre of political and diplomatic pow CT, it's great wealth and social distinction, the home of eminent statesmen, jurists, military and naval heroes, it's unparalleled institutions of learning and vast libraries, and it's hundred and twenty churches, would rank among the foremost in eccles. iastical ability and pulpit oratory, but Washington does not pride herself over- much on this score. Take from the list a half dozen of her preachers, who are really eminent men in their calling, and you have remaining but mediocrity of ministerial talent, a good proportion of which will hardly surpass the ordinary village stand ard. This is not severe criticism, for the same truth holds good in all large cities, but then we expect more in Washington than anywhere else, and suppose this is the reason why so many strangers express the opinion that they "get just as good sermons at home" And so they do. l have heard among New England hills, and away out on the prairies of the distant west, as spiritual, scholarly and eloquent sermons as can be heard at nine out of ten of the churches at Washington.
 There is one element in which Washing. a ton properly abounds,. and that is oul cranky characters. In this estimate ig. nore entirely those who draw congression- al salaries. There are lots of real cranks here besides congressman, and I am in- chned to think represent larger constit- uency. They seem to gravitate here as quietly as 8 sunbeam. I have in mind one who can be seen daily upon the Aven. ue, about seventy years of age, fully six feet tall and has face that is genuine puzzle, ornamented with pair of side whiskers which look as though they had been brought in close contact with stove polish. have inquired into his history, and learn that many years ago this old man made large fortune in the slave trade, which was swept to the winds during the war and left him financial and mental wreck, and he now lives on the charity oi relatives, but expects every session of con- &Fess will pass bill to restore his fortune. His headquarters were at Holly Springs, Miss. ,and gentleman who has known him for forty years, tells me that he has stolen hundreds of free negroes and sold them into slavery. This is only one of hundreds of characters that I conld delineate, that stroll about our streets, lounge in the parks and at the hotels, visit the public buildings and libraries, and assume an air OA 4OANy 4A4pO1tAACOS OAb hGO AOb4AuA Out cranks. Bred gentlemen, but human wrecks, and objects of pity. rr-
 The commissioner of internal revenue in his report submitted yesterday to the treas ury department, says that the receipts o1 his bureau for the past year amount to SIS, ,829, ,526, and that it cost $4, ,O65, 149 to collect this amount There are 204 per- sons connected with the bureau, and 5, 156 grain, molasses and fruit distiIleries. regis tered. He recommends several changes in the law to prevent fraud and evasion, which is still practiced to quite an extent
 Governor Church of Dakota is here urg- ing the president to favor in his message the admission of that territory, but nothing can be learned as to the results of his ef- forts thus far.
 The steamer Albatross left the navy yard today for three years cruise to the Pa cifc fishing grounds. Ivisited her yester- day, and was wonderfully interested in her thorough and complete arrangements for this important scientific expedition. Her crew consists of seventy seamen, ten naval officers and five noted scientists. The ob- feet of the expedition is to look for, and obtain if possible, samples of every living thing in the Pacific, and deposit them in the national museum. Scientific men throughout the world will note the prog ress of her voyage with remarkable inter- est. !